A faceted glass is considered one of the symbols of the Soviet era that has passed into history. The era has ended, but glasses are still kept and even used in many families.
What is the secret of such popularity of this dish? When and where did it appear on Soviet shelves? What secrets does the legendary glass keep?
The beginning of a legend
Despite its wide popularity, true story the origin of a faceted glass is shrouded in darkness. There are several versions of its appearance. One of the most common, for example, says that faceted glasses appeared in Rus' during the time of Peter I.
As one of the stories of the origin of the cut glass says, the first one was presented to the emperor by a glassmaker from Vladimir, Efim Smolin. Thus, the master offered Peter a solution to the problem that was encountered everywhere in the navy.
The essence of the problem was that during the rocking, ordinary glasses slipped off the tables and crashed into huge quantities, which caused losses not only to the naval commanders, but also to the treasury.
Efim demonstrated a glass, which, due to the peculiarities of its structure, was not in a “hurry” to roll off the table, and having rolled down, it should not have broken on the deck.
The legend also tells that the emperor immediately tested the invention - he drank a strong drink from it and threw it on the floor to test its strength.
Despite the fact that the glass thrown by Peter, contrary to the statements of its creator, still broke, the monarch approved the innovation and ordered such utensils to be put into use.
At first, the new product was used exclusively in the navy, and then the glass gradually migrated to land, and its mass production even began.
There is information that in last years During the reign of Peter the Great, almost 13 thousand of these glasses were produced.
Smolin's glass was different from what was usual for Soviet citizens - its capacity was 300 grams, and its thick walls had a greenish tint. But the presence of edges allows us to consider it the ancestor of the legendary granchak.
Second birth"
As the history of the USSR cut glass says, its revival began during the Second World War. Moreover, his second “birth” has nothing to do with less secrets and legends than with its first appearance in Rus'.
There are two main candidates for the “parents” of the Soviet cut glass. One of them is Vera Mukhina, the one who gave the country “The Worker and the Collective Farm Woman.” According to some sources, in the 40s the sculptor became interested in glass, and the result of her passion was a faceted glass. It was also rumored that the author of “Black Square” K. Malevich himself helped start the story of Mukhina’s faceted glass.
Mukhina's authorship was confirmed by some of her colleagues and relatives. However, a number of researchers argue that Mukhina only finalized the design of the dishes that had been known long before. This version is supported by the fact that glasses with edges were used even in pre-war times.
The second candidate for the role of the creator of the legend is Nikolai Slavyanov, a Ural engineer, the creator of arc welding, in whose archives sketches of cut glassware were found.
This version is confirmed by Slavyanov’s personal notes and diaries, which depict sketches of glasses with different numbers of sides. True, in his idea the glass was supposed to be made of metal.
However, the history of the creation of the faceted glass suggests that Mukhina and Slavyanov knew each other, so it could well have been their joint creative project.
Not so popular, but still known is the version about the “overseas” origin of the granchak. Its supporters argue that the pressing method by which the famous glasses were made was invented in the USA back in the 20s of the 19th century.
According to the requirements of scientific and technological progress
Speaking about the reasons that prompted the creation of a faceted glass, researchers agree that this shape was not chosen by chance - it was fully consistent with the development innovative technologies that time.
The fact is that even before the war, the first automatic dishwashing machines appeared in the Soviet Union. True, they did not go into mass production and were used exclusively for production needs, for example, in catering establishments.
These same cars had one design feature- they could only wash dishes of a certain shape. For example, faceted glasses. Due to insufficient strength, other dishes often broke during washing.
That is why the need arose to equip all public catering points with cut glassware.
Easier to pour for three
Many people associate a cut glass with alcohol, as it was a favorite container for those who like to drink after work or “have a glass” on the weekend.
In addition, most historians and researchers are even sure that the expression “think for three” is also directly related to granchak.
The fact is that, as part of the fight against drunkenness, N. Khrushchev at one time banned the sale of strong drinks by the glass. Almost simultaneously, small bottles of 125 and 200 ml disappeared from the counter. Drinking half a liter alone, and even together, turned out to be uncomfortable. But this volume was divided very well between three people.
Well, faceted glasses were perfectly suited for equally dividing the contents of half a liter - they were filled without adding a little to the rim, and everyone was happy after receiving their portion.
By the way, faceted glasses were used exclusively for drinking vodka - it was not customary to pour other alcoholic drinks into them.
Headband - for convenience
The first Soviet glasses with a faceted surface were produced without a rim. However, drinking from such dishes turned out to be not very convenient - the glasses had to be pressed too tightly to the lips.
That's when the border was invented. As soon as the innovation became widespread, the new glass was dubbed “lipped” to distinguish it from the old model.
By the way, later people began to call granchak “Malenkovsky” instead of “lipped.” This happened after the promise of G. Malenkov, who was the Minister of Defense at that time, to include 200 g of vodka (a glass filled to the rim) in the rations of some categories of military personnel.
Faceted glass: history, how many faces
The very first cut glass of Soviet times was produced at the Gus-Khrustalny glass factory, the oldest in the country. Subsequently, the production of such dishes began at many other glass factories of the Union. But no matter where it was made, it was made to strict standards and had the same dimensional characteristics. What dimensions and how many sides did the faceted glass have? The history contains the following data:
- base diameter - 5.5 cm;
- diameter of the upper part - 7.2 - 7.3 cm;
- glass height - 10.5 cm;
- rim width - 1.4 - 2.1 cm.
Moreover, according to the history of the faceted glass, 16 sides and 20 were the most common options. But there were also products with 10, 12 or 14 edges. This fact is also confirmed by the history of cut glasses. There could even be 15 or 17 sides. Several batches of such glasses were produced. However, as it was determined experimentally, the production of glass containers with an even number of edges is much simpler technologically, and therefore more rational.
The "secret" of strength
One of the main features of the Soviet faceted glass, in addition to convenient form, was its increased strength. When falling, they did not break and could withstand liquids of any temperature. They could even be used as nut crackers!
The “secret” of such strength was the thickened walls of the granchak and special technologies for its production.
The glass for the legendary products was boiled at high temperatures - from 1400 to 1600 o C, after which they were fired and cut twice.
At one time, lead, usually used in the manufacture of crystal glassware, was even added to the melt.
Advantages
Compared to other cylindrical glasses, faceted products had a number of advantages arising from their features. The main advantages of a model with faceted sides most often include:
- Durability (the glass remained intact even when dropped from a meter height onto a concrete surface, which made it possible to use it at home, in the dining room, and on the street).
- Convenience (it was comfortable to hold in your hand, it did not slip even from wet hands. In addition, the edges prevented it from rolling off the table).
- Multifunctionality (the glass was used not only as a container for liquid, but also as a measure of bulk products, a convenient container for separating alcohol, etc.).
- Ubiquity and general availability (they were used everywhere - at home and in catering establishments, in street soda fountains and others in public places).
Interestingly, those who like to use granchak to “correctly” bottle a half-liter bottle were confident that such containers significantly reduce the risk of a hangover.
Curious facts
Today, few people remember this, but classic faceted glasses at one time differed from each other in price. Moreover, the latter depended on the number of faces. Thus, a 10-sided glass cost 3 kopecks, a 16-sided glass cost 7 kopecks, and a 20-sided glass cost 14 kopecks.
Moreover, the volume of the glass did not depend at all on the number of faces. It always remained the same - 200 g to the rim and 250 to the edges.
The most common and popular was a glass with 16 sides.
Production of cut glasses
As the history of cut glass in Russia says, during the peak popularity of such glassware at glass factories Soviet Union began to produce not only 250-gram products, but also 50 and 300 ml volumes, with a different number of edges.
During the era of perestroika, old equipment from glass factories began to be replaced with new, often imported. Contrary to expectations, such modernization had a negative impact on the quality of faceted glasses - they began to “come apart at the seams”, the bottom of many fell off when filled with hot liquid, and others simply exploded.
Due to violations in the technological process, the legendary glass lost its strength and, as a result, its popularity began to decline. Moreover, soon new beautiful and varied dishes began to appear on store shelves.
Today, finding a cut glass is not so easy, but some enterprises still produce the legend and one of the symbols of the Soviet era. Is it true, for the most part- on order.
Perhaps no element of tableware was as functional as a faceted glass. And sometimes they found completely unexpected uses for it. So:
- Many housewives used it to cut out dough pieces for dumplings and dumplings.
- It was a universal measuring instrument. In many recipes, the quantity of products was even indicated in glasses.
- In winter it was used as a dehumidifier and placed between double window frames. Salt was poured into it, which prevented the glass from freezing.
- Summer residents grew seedlings for their gardens in them. Unlike containers made from other materials, they could be reused many times.
- And the children loved to carry out experiments in which the most important attribute was a glass with edges. For example, it was very convenient to demonstrate optical phenomena.
It is noteworthy that in houses where cut glasses have been preserved, they are still used not only for pouring liquids, but also in many other household matters.
Festival of the Faceted Glass
People's love for a cut glass is reflected in the fact that this piece of tableware has its own birthday. It was September 11, 1943 - the day when the first copy of the future legend rolled off the assembly line of the glass factory in Gus-Khrustalny.
The first sample had 16 sides, was 9 cm in height and 6.5 cm in diameter.
Of course, the date is not included in the list of official public holidays, but the main thing is people's memory!
Nowadays, cut glass is no longer in such demand and is gradually becoming a rarity, kept more for collection. At one time, a faceted glass was one of the most important attributes of everyday life in the Soviet Union. But few people know who invented the faceted glass. Let's try to figure this out.
So who invented the cut glass? Answering this question is quite problematic. Thus, it is known that glasses with edges were produced under Peter I and were produced at one of the oldest glass factories in the city of Gus-Khrustalny. Many have no doubt that faceted glasses and shot glasses were produced even before the revolution.
In 1905, Carl Faberge exhibited his still life “Proletarian Breakfast”. Interestingly, in fact, all this is made of quite expensive materials. So the glass of vodka is crystal, the brick is made of jasper, the yolk is amber, the cigarette butt is made of a mixture of quartz and silver, the fly is also made of silver, like a piece of newspaper. This work is estimated at more than $1 million.
In 1914, an automatic furnace appeared at the Urschel glass factory, thanks to which they also began producing cut glass.
We can see a faceted glass in the painting “Morning Still Life” by Petrov-Vodkin, which he painted in 1918. It can be seen that the glass has 12 sides.
An attentive reader will notice that this is not exactly the design that later became popular, so we can still assume that the faceted glass in its classic form for the USSR was invented by Vera Ignetyevna Mukhina, a famous Soviet sculptor who created the monumental sculpture “Worker” and a collective farmer." There are also rumors that Kazamir Malevich helped her in developing the design.
Vera Ignatievna Mukhina was fascinated by glass in the late 40s. She was tasked with inventing new uniform for glasses in such a way that in catering canteens they can be easily washed in a dishwashing machine, and also make them more durable. You may notice that Mukhina’s glass has a reinforcing ring along the top, which you will not see on other faceted glasses before.
The first faceted glass was produced on September 11, 1943 at the same plant in the city of Gus-Khrustalny. A standard glass has 16 sides, but there are other variations with 12, 14, 16 and 18 sides; they are less common with an odd number of sides, for example, the 17th, because it was technologically inconvenient to produce them. The volume of the faceted glass is 250 milliliters up to the rim.
The volume of glasses could be: 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 350 milliliters. The price varied from 7 to 14 kopecks and was indicated at the bottom of the glass by squeezing.
Etymology
The word “dostakan” is found in a Russian charter of 1356 and in the Spiritual charter of Ivan Kalita (died 1340). It is assumed that this is a borrowing from Turkic wooden utensils - tostakan(low round bowl type bowl). In modern Kazakh language, tostagana is a drinking cup.
Description
The shape of the glass is usually close to a cylinder or a truncated cone, but glasses of more complex shapes are found. The main difference between a glass and other types of glassware is the absence of a handle. Glasses are also faceted.
The ratio of the height of the glass to the diameter of the base is approximately 2:1, and its size is close to a human palm. The volume of the glass is usually 200-250 cm³. Smaller glasses are often called cups, and very small ones are called shot glasses. In everyday life, it is believed that an ordinary faceted glass, poured to a smooth rim, holds 200 ml, and poured “right”, that is, to the brim, holds 250 ml.
In old Russian measures of the volume of liquid bodies (mainly state-owned vodka), 12 glasses = 1/4 bucket, that is, 3 liters, of which the volume of a glass is 250 ml.
There are glasses that are transparent (glass, plastic) and opaque (paper, plastic, metal), reusable and disposable (made of paper or plastic), collapsible (made of several rings).
The material of the glass determines whether it can be used for drinking hot drinks or not.
There are even edible glasses: for example, ice cream can be sold in waffle cups.
Faceted glass
Faceted glass
The dimensions of a classic faceted glass are 65 mm in diameter and 90 mm in height. The glass had 16 sides (there are also specimens with 17 sides, but 12, 14, 16 and 18 are the most typical number, because, from a technology point of view, it is easier to produce glasses with an even number of sides) and held 250 ml of liquid (to the brim). At the bottom of the glass, its price was squeezed out (usually 7 or 14 kopecks; “20-sided ones” cost 14 kopecks).
Characteristics of a standard faceted glass made in the USSR:
- Top diameter: 7.2-7.3cm;
- Bottom diameter: 5.5cm;
- Height: 10.5 cm;
- Number of faces: 16, 20 (other values are possible);
- Top edge width: 1.4 cm, 2.1 cm (other values are possible);
Glass volume: 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 350 milliliters.
A faceted glass has a number of advantages compared to a regular cylindrical glass. Thanks to its edges, such a glass is much stronger and can survive a fall onto a concrete floor from a meter height. Therefore, faceted glasses are still produced today and are used in catering establishments, as well as on passenger trains (usually with a cup holder).
The faceted glass was popularly called “Malenkovsky”, after the name of the Soviet statesman Georgy Malenkov.
Beaker
Chemical (laboratory) beakers
Beakers (or beakers) are a very important part of a chemical or biological laboratory. As a rule, their shape is a strict cylinder, although sometimes they can have the shape of a truncated cone expanding upward. Required attribute The beaker has a spout for easy draining of liquid. A good beaker should have a flat bottom for ease of use of a magnetic stirrer. They are usually made of heat-resistant glass, but can be plastic. The volume of beakers varies from 5 ml to several liters. A volume scale may be marked on the glass, but it is approximate and serves as a guide only. Vessels with precise scales used to measure the volume of liquid are called beakers. Beakers are usually used for preparing solutions of complex composition, when it is necessary to dissolve several solids with stirring. During “lab” holidays, 50 ml beakers are often used as shot glasses.
Disposable cup
The disposable cup was created in 1910 by Hugh More as a result of the fight against epidemics.
Folding glass
Folding metal glass
A folding glass consists of a stand and rings in the form of truncated cones attached to it. When folded, they are placed one under the other, covered with a lid. In the unfolded position, they are telescopically opened upwards. In popular feature films such as Life Danger! " (), "Moscow Holidays" (), etc., a folding glass was used as an indispensable attribute of drunkards.
Glass as a measure of volume
A glass is also a household measure of the volume of liquid and bulk solids, and as such is used in culinary recipes. In these cases, we mean a volume of 200 ml. For example, there is this recipe for “Moscow Solyanka in a frying pan”: “2 - 3 hazel grouse (or any other game), 100 g smoked brisket, 5 sausages, 500 g sour shredded cabbage, 4 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 onion, 2 cups of broth, 100 g of any marinades, salt, pepper to taste, 1/2 cup of grated cheese.”
Popular expressions with the word "glass"
- Find the truth at the bottom of the glass.
Not long ago, the most famous attribute of the Soviet era, Comrade Faceted Glass, celebrated its next anniversary. His birthday is considered to be September 11, 1943, and it was produced at the oldest glass factory in the city of Gus-Khrustalny, and became an integral part of domestic catering.
Few people know that a cut glass is recognized by experts as an unofficial cultural attribute of the USSR, as a symbol of something social, public, and unifying. It’s really hard to argue with this, because common glasses could be found in soda fountains, in canteens with compote and kefir, with tea and jelly in kindergartens and schools. Here are some facts about him.
1. The design of the Soviet cut glass is attributed to the sculptor Vera Mukhina, who is the author of the monumental composition “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman”. However, this is not quite true. She only improved its form. The first batch of glasses based on her drawings was produced in 1943.
2. The appearance of the Soviet glass was due to scientific and technological progress. The faceted glass received this shape because it was ideal for dishwashers, which were invented shortly before: only dishes of a certain size could be washed in them. So its appearance is not an artist’s imagination, but a production necessity. The glass is durable, thick and minimalist.
3. By the way, the price of a glass was different, and it depended on the number of sides: glasses with 10, 12, 14, 16 and even 20 sides were produced. In the end, we settled on the most convenient option - with 16 edges. So, 10 facets (the very first glasses) cost 3 kopecks, 16 - 7 kopecks, and 20 facets 14 kopecks, respectively. Nevertheless, the capacity of the glass always remained the same: 200 ml to the rim, 250 to the brim.
4. The faceted glass had a common name - “Malenkovsky”. It is connected with the Minister of Defense Malenkov and his order, according to which some categories of the military were entitled to 200 grams of vodka for lunch. And those who did not drink vodka could get tobacco or sugar instead - in the volume of a glass. The order did not exist for long, but was remembered very well.
5. The classic expression “think for three” is also associated with a cut glass. The fact is that a half-liter bottle of vodka is ideally divided into three glasses: if you pour it to the glass rim, you get exactly 167 grams. This made it possible to share alcohol according to conscience.
6. In fact, the faceted glass has been known much earlier - since the time of Peter the Great. It was presented to Peter as a gift as an unbreakable container for drinking alcoholic beverages. The king appreciated the gift: during the sea motion, the glass stood firmly on the table and indeed remained intact during the fall. The first glasses were produced at the same glass factory in Gus-Khrustalny.
7. The faceted glass is fixed in fine arts: in 1918, the famous Russian artist Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin painted “Morning Still Life”, which shows the ancestor of the usual Soviet glass.
The people called him “Granchak”. He's "big-lipped". He is also “Malinkovsky”. He is “Mukhinsky”. But actually, this is a Soviet glass - multifaceted, like the truth.
It turns out that we owe the expression “as simple as three kopecks” to a cut glass. The number of sides of this honorary inhabitant of railway buffets was different: 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20. At one time they even produced glasses with 17 sides, but it was more difficult to make dishes with an odd number of sides, so they settled on the optimal 16. The price of the product depended directly on the number of faces. The simplest, 10-grain, cost 3 kopecks, the 16-grain cost seven, the “luxury” 20-grain cost as much as 14.
Although the cut glass is a classic symbol of the Soviet era, it can be seen in Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin’s “Morning Still Life” from 1918.
Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin. Morning still life
According to many researchers, faceted glass appeared back in the time of Peter I, and was produced by the glass factory in the city of Gus-Khrustalny. Then the glass was called “granchak” and was a newfangled alternative to Russian wooden mugs. The edges made it durable and prevented it from rolling around on the table. When the new product was presented to the king, he did not believe in the reliability of the glass and heartily slammed it on the floor. The glass broke. But the reformer appreciated the idea and allegedly said: “There will be a glass.” But the boyars didn’t hear enough: “Shatter glasses.” Since then, the tradition of breaking dishes for good luck allegedly began.
Peter I in an English engraving from 1858
Despite their dislike for everything bourgeois, Soviet engineers appreciated the glass, if only “upgrading it.” Its strength was given by the shape and thickness of the glass. The latter was produced at extremely high temperatures- 1400–1600 °C. And besides, they burned him twice. Well, at first they even added lead to glass.
By the way, about the exterior. It is believed that unique shape It was invented by the Soviet sculptor Vera Mukhina, the author of the famous memorial “Worker and Collective Farm Woman” (hence one of the popular names for the glass is “Mukhinsky”). 
In the 1980s, when the technology for making faceted stones was disrupted (production simply switched to foreign standards), gossip spread about the machinations of enemies who encroached on the shrine. Glasses began not only to break, but to burst and even explode.
A faceted glass was not just a piece of utensils - it was a “mandala” of the era, from which many well-known aphorisms came. Here is at least the expression “to think for three.” The fact is that a standard faceted glass (counting from the rim) held exactly 200 g. A half-liter of vodka did not fit into two glasses, but it would fit neatly into three. Therefore, it was more convenient for the three of us to drink.
The habit of “thinking for three” has entered the world 
The Moskovskaya vodka brand appeared back in 1894 
By the way, about the rim. The first faceted glasses did not have it, so it was very inconvenient to drink from them: to prevent the contents from spilling, the glass had to be pressed tightly to the lips. When the rim along the edge did appear, the original model of the glass was called “lipped” to distinguish it from the second. But the glass became “Malenkovsky” in those days when the Soviet Minister of Defense Georgy Malenkov promised certain categories of military personnel a ration of 200 g of vodka for lunch (for non-drinkers, the norm was replaced by a similar amount of tobacco or sugar). The decree ordered a long life, but people's memory is immortal.
Soda water vending machines in Soviet years could often be found on the street or in public places. In Moscow alone there were 10,000 of them 
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